To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 May 1794
From Edmund Randolph
May 28. 1794.
The Secretary of State has the honor of informing the President, that the most respectable merchants here recommend Joseph Wilson, as Consul for Dublin; he being a man, who has lived in Philadelphia for many years; and holds considerable property in the city.1
Connyngham and Nesbitt are satisfied, that a consul cannot be in any respect necessary at Rouen at this time; as the trade from hence with that place is very small in time of peace; and of war, almost nothing.2
The Dutch will not receive a consul at Surinam.
It is extremely difficult to get a proper man for Paris. It will be perhaps better to let Colo. Monroe find out a fit character, & notify him here; for if we should happen to hit upon a character, whose politics are doubtful, the U.S. will be greatly injured. In the mean time Colo. Monroe may appoint that person to act as agent of the U.S., until a commission can be sent to him.
So that, if the President approves, the only addition to the list will be of Joseph Wilson for Dublin.3
AL, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. Joseph Wilson (d. 1809) served as consul at Dublin from this appointment until his death.
2. John Maxwell Nesbitt (c.1728-1802) emigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia in the 1750s and soon became partner with Redmond Conyngham in the firm Conyngham and Nesbitt, by this time Conyngham, Nesbitt & Co., with David Hayfield Conyngham. Nesbitt was also a director of the Bank of North America, 1781–92, and the first president of the Insurance Company of North America, 1792–96.
3. For the list, see GW to the U.S. Senate, this date.